"This hatred and racism has to be eliminated," said Ali Chahbar, of the London Muslim Mosque

Forty-nine people were killed and more than 20 seriously wounded in shootings at t

London’s Muslim Outreach Committee is reacting with horror this
morning following separate shootings in Chistchurch, New Zealand at two
mosques.

“This hatred and racism has to be eliminated,” said Ali
Chahbar, Muslim Outreach Committee with the London Muslim Mosque in a
written statement.

“It is a very scary day for
especially Muslims around the world. We are reeling immensely from this
act of terror and paralyzed and traumatized, to say the least,” the
statement goes on to read.

Police in New Zealand say 49 people were killed in mass shootings at two Christchurch mosques.

New
Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said that to date, one person has
been charged with murder in connection with the attacks, though more
people are in custody.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemned the
violence, which left at least 20 people seriously injured, and said
police are currently questioning the people in custody.

“It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack,” Ardern said.

“This is not who we are,” she said. “This act was not a reflection of who we are as a nation.”

‘Push away the darkness’

The London mosque is hoping people will act to stop these types of incidents from happening.

“It
may be beneficial for many if a show on fighting this disgusting rise
in hate, bigotry, racism, xenophobia and violence could be done,”
Chahbar said.

“Let’s talk and shed some light and push away the darkness. Open up our minds and hear the other voices.”

wo mosques in New Zealand on Friday, in what Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said was a terrorist attack.

The
attack by at least one gunman during Friday prayers in the city of
Christchurch is the country’s worst-ever mass shooting and was condemned
throughout Asia.

“It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack,” Ardern said.

Ardern
said New Zealand had been placed on its highest security threat level.
She said four people in police custody held extremist views, but had not
been on any police watchlists.

Some 48 people, including
children, are being treated in Christchurch Hospital after shootings at
two mosques in the city on Friday, New Zealand health authorities said.

Video
footage widely circulated on social media, apparently taken by a gunman
and posted online live as the attack unfolded, showed him driving to
one mosque, entering it and shooting randomly at people inside.

New
Zealand’s Police Commissioner Mike Bush said 41 people were killed at
the Al Noor mosque, the city’s main mosque, and another 7 at a mosque in
the suburb of Linwood. One person died at Christchurch Hospital.

Political and Islamic leaders expressed their disgust at the deadly shootings, with some citing rising “Islamophobia” as being responsible.

As
governments in Asia and the Middle East scrambled to find out how many
of their citizens had been caught up in the Christchurch bloodshed,
there was also anger that the attackers targeted worshippers at Friday
prayers.